22 High Street March 2010
22 High Street was listed by the former Department of Environment in August 1983 as Grade II, of special interest. The department dated the property to the 17th century with 19th century alterations. The house is built from colour washed roughcast over a timber frame, has an old clay tile roof with diamond patterning to the east and zigzag patterning to the south. It is built in an L-plan, with both parallel and projecting wings of colour washed brick to the rear. The north block has two storeys, the south block, two storeys and attics.
The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. Roxton, like most of the county, was assessed in 1927 and the valuer visiting The Cedars [DV1/C198/109] found it owned and occupied by Thomas M. Lee.
The detached plaster and tiled building stood in a little under half an acre. The valuer commented: “House is large but rambling and space wasted – well kept”. Accommodation comprised two reception rooms, a hall, a breakfast room, a scullery, a pantry “and usual offices” with two bedrooms “used” and three smaller ones used as stores and one as a servant’s room. The lounge measured 17 feet 6 inches by 15 feet 6 inches, the dining room 10 feet by 13 feet 6 inches, the first bedroom 18 feet by 12 feet and the second bedroom 17 feet by 13 feet. A bathroom had hot and cold running water. Outside lay a garage and a weather-boarded and tiled barn and tool shed.
The property was sold in the 1960s. The undated particulars [Z35/44] read as follows:
The Attractive Old Period Residence
THE CEDARS, ROXTON, BEDFORDSHIRE.
enjoying fishing and boating in the River Great Ouse with Golf Links at Saint Neots and Hunting with the Mid Beds and Oakley.
The residence occupies a pleasant corner position, sheltered and secluded by trees, shrubs and partly enclosed by a brick wall. It is substantially built of brick and cream washed stucco rendered elevations, large diamond pane lattice windows and gabled tile hung roof. The accommodation arranged on two floors comprises:
On the Ground Floor
ENTRANCE HALL
CLOAKROOM with hand basin having hot and cold supplies, w. c.
DINING ROOM about 14 feet by 13 feet with modern red brick fireplace, parquet floor and glazed casement doors;
MORNING ROOM about 14 feet by 13 feet with brick fireplace having fitted book shelves either side and glazed doors to Garden
LOUNGE about 18 feet by 14 feet with red brick fireplace having oak mantel, pillared supports and glazed doors;
PLAY ROOM about 13 feet 6 inches by 11 feet;
The DOMESTIC OFFICES comprise excellent KITCHEN about 13 feet by 11 feet with “Ideal” “Cookandheat” range supplying domestic hot water. Points for Cooker and refrigerator. Larder.SCULLERY with sink having hot and cold supplies over. Heated linen cupboard with electric immersion heater.
On the First Floor are
FIVE BEDROOMS three are of double size and two single, measuring about 18 feet 6 inches by 12 feet 6 inches (with dressing room), 18 feet by 12 feet 9 inches, 18 feet by 13 feet, 12 feet 6 inches by 11 feet and 13 feet 9 inches by 7 feet 9 inches.
MODERN BATHROOM with enclosed bath and pedestal hand basin both with hot and cold supplies over. Separate W. C.
Main Electric Light, Power and Water. Modern Drainage.
Outside
Brick and slate GARAGE with concrete floor and gravelled approach from the Road. Timber and tiled range of Outbuildings.
THE GROUNDS
Are pleasantly disposed in lawn, herbaceous borders, Kitchen Garden and Fruit Trees, the whole surrounded by flowering shrubs and trees and extending in all to about ¾ acre.
In 2013 the property was again for sale and the particulars [Z449/6/24] detailed, on the ground floor: a family room measuring 16 feet by 14 feet 2 inches; a dining room measuring 13 feet 8 inches by 12 feet 5 inches; a sitting room measuring 18 feet by 13 feet 5 inches; a study measuring 12 feet 11 inches by 10 feet 5 inches; a W. C.; a larder; a breakfast room measuring 13 feet 1 inch by 12 feet 10 inches; a kitchen measuring 12 feet by 10 feet 7 inches and a utility room measuring 10 feet 7 inches by 6 feet 3 inches. The first floor contained: a bathroom; a W. C. and five bedrooms measuring, respectively: 12 feet 4 inches by 10 feet 8 inches; 17 feet 6 inches by 13 feet; 18 feet 6 inches by 12 feet 7 inches; 13 feet 6 inches by 7 feet 9 inches and 17 feet 7 inches by 13 feet 2 inches. Outside were walled gardens, a potting shed, an ornamental pond, a covered terrace, a paved courtyard, a water feature, a driveway, parking a garage and an outbuilding used as an office measuring 21 feet 3 inches by 13 feet 6 inches.